The impact of pumped hydro on your recreational fishing in NSW
Pumped hydro systems might soon have an impact on your recreational fishing. There are reportedly more than 60 pumped hydro projects proposed on NSW waterways. The NSWCFA will monitor developments at the state level, but anglers are encouraged to monitor projects in their districts.

Pumped hydro involves the construction of dams that are used to drive turbines to produce electricity. The dams are filled by using cheap power purchased from the grid in periods of low demand/cost; currently much of that power is generated by fossil fuel power stations. The water is released through turbines to generate ‘hydro’ power at peak load times, and sold at a higher price than the power purchased to fill the dam. Pumped hydro acts as a rechargeable battery, storing energy collected when supply exceeds demand, and then providing electricity to the grid when other sources are insufficient to meet needs.

A typical pumped hydro project involves two reservoirs built adjacent to a natural waterway: a lower holding reservoir is initially filled by water from the stream and pumped to a higher reservoir positioned above turbines. After running down through the turbines to generate power, the water returns to the lower reservoir and is then pumped back up to the higher reservoir using low-cost, off-peak power from the grid. The lower reservoir is topped up from the stream whenever water is lost through evaporation and seepage.

The NSWCFA has prepared a short advisory note with further details and recommendations for angling groups. Download at this link.

Reminder: EOI open for Fisheries Advisory Councils
The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) for three NSW fisheries advisory councils. Applications must be received by 5 pm 16 January 2023.

NSW DPI Fisheries Deputy Director General Sean Sloan said “The Ministerial Fisheries Advisory Council (MFAC) was established in 2014 to provide high-level strategic policy advice on issues relating to the management of fisheries resources in NSW,” said Mr Sloan.

“Similarly, the Recreational Fishing NSW (RFNSW) and Commercial Fishing NSW (CommFish NSW) Advisory Councils were set up to provide advice to the Minister on matters relating to each of these fisheries sectors.

There are a total of 21 vacant positions across the three advisory councils that need to be filled.

Expressions of Interest for the role of council members can be submitted through the submission portal at: https://bit.ly/3UQW8Ci.

For more information on the NSW DPI Fisheries advisory councils, visit DPIs website at https://bit.ly/3SGqRjr.

Fish kill at Black Lake, Bombala
Two weeks ago the Monaro Acclimatisation Society received reports of a fish kill at Black Lake near Bombala. MAS liaised with NSW Fisheries and as a result received their analysis of the event (below in italics). MAS will keep an eye on the lake and if/when things improve will work with Gaden Trout Hatchery to stock it again. While the lake has been used recently for motor boat activities it is inconclusive if these activities contributed to the fish kill. In other seasons when the lake has been full such activity has taken place without a fish kill, but MAS will monitor the situation.
 
'NSW DPI Fisheries is aware of fish kill at Black Lake today affecting 100-200 Rainbow Trout. DPI Fisheries Officers have inspected the lake, and the suspected cause of the event has been attributed to critically low dissolved oxygen generated by rotting organic material from recent flooding of the lake foreshore.'
 
I would like to thank anglers for all for the support you offer to the Monaro Acclimatisation Society and on behalf of the Executive of the MAS I wish you a merry festive season and good fishing.
 
Steve Samuels
President
Monaro Acclimatisation Society Inc

Tracking frogs for healthier waterways

Recreational anglers have special knowledge of NSW’s waterways and the environment. The NSW Department of Planning and Environment – Water would like to use that knowledge to help manage the state's waterways and the fish, frogs and other species which rely on them.

The NSW DPIE is working with the Australian Museum to track frogs and frog calls using FrogID, a phone app available from the App Store or Google Play. They're collecting this data to help understand how our water management affects the environment. For more information, check out the website - www.frogid.net.au.

Tracking frog populations and locations can help provide early warning signs of environmental stresses like pollution, drought and habitat changes. This data helps make decisions about how we manage water, to ensure we’re protecting our precious rivers and their wildlife. 

To get involved, download the app to your phone, and use it to record frogs at your local creek or river. This data will be used to get an understanding of which frogs are living where, and how our water management is affecting them. Data from flowing streams, creeks, rivers and permanent waterways would be particularly useful. 

Together DPIE can help develop programs to support our precious waterways and aquatic species. Healthy frogs help support healthy fish.

To learn more about water management in NSW, you can sign up for the newsletter.

Yearling stocking on Snowy Mountains lakes

In December volunteers met on the shores of Lake Eucumbene to stock 10,000 yearling trout bred by the staff at Gaden Trout Hatchery. Coordinated by the Monaro Acclimatisation Society, MAS members, local anglers and members of Trout Trollers Australia and Alpine Trout Fishing Australia gathered at Buckenderra Holiday village to assist in the release by transporting the fish to various parts of the lake.
 
At the same time a similar event occurred at Lake Jindabyne with 10,000 yearlings also released there.
 
With such quality fish being released into our impoundments the future of trout fishing in the Snowies is assured.
 
I would like to express my appreciation to all anglers involved and to the Gaden Hatchery staff for producing such wonderful fish.
 
Steve Samuels
President
Monaro Acclimatisation Society Inc

NSWCFA Interclub Fly and Lure Fishing Meet 2023

The NSW CFA and the Central Coast Fly Rodders club will be running a Fly and Lure Fishing Interclub Meet on behalf of the NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers at Lake Glenbawn, Friday and Sunday 17-19 March 2023. The Meet will be based at the Scone Amateur Fishing Club club room at Diamond Point North on Lake Glenbawn. Further details are at this link.

10th World Recreational Fishing Conference program announced 
The 10th World Recreational Fishing Conference (WRFC10) will be held in Melbourne on 20-22 February 2023, at the Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre. (MCEC).

The full conference program has been announced and can be viewed at this link.

The program showcases an incredible lineup of keynotes, speakers, together with workshops and a vast array of opportunities for learning, sharing, reconnecting and forging new connections.The conference, spanning over three days, will bring together the thought leaders, change-makers and global recreational fishing community to share their vision, science, passion, issues and solutions across a range of themes and wicked problems at the forefront of recreational fisheries management and science.

For details on registration go to this link.

More details are on the WRFC10 website. 

Next meeting of NSW CFA
The next quarterly general meeting of the NSWCFA will be on Saturday 18 February at 10.00 am via Zoom. Notices and agenda etc will be sent to delegates and members prior to the meeting.

Thank you to our Foundation Members
These Foundation Members have generously made a special financial contribution to the NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers in the interests of all freshwater anglers in NSW.

Australian Trout Foundation, Damian Balfour, The Barrington Club, Don Barton, Bill Blair, Ken Chapman, David Connon, David Copperthwaite, Richard Cottam, Radge Diakiw, Fred Dunford, Dan Frogan, Stefan Fuchs, Peter Gibson, Michael Hall, William Hall, John Harris, Max Harris, Kevin Kai, James Mackie, Rob Marich, Peter Mason, Neil McAully, NSW Rod Fishers' Society, David Pinsent, Wayne Power, Greg Prowse, Ian Roache, Don Salter, Paul Sanders, Joe Searl, David Sheers, Bob Stevenson, Mike Timbrell, David Tinworth, Steve Tizard.

Freshwater anglers are invited to make a special contribution to the NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers (NSWCFA) in the interests of all freshwater anglers in NSW.

You will be well aware of the challenges freshwater anglers face in sustaining the freshwater fishery in NSW, especially regarding the preservation of angler access. The NSWCFA constantly strives to overcome those challenges but we need your financial support to meet the costs of that work.

We are appealing to members who can afford to make a small extra annual contribution to become NSWCFA Foundation Members to help meet our operating costs. Foundation Membership is just $25 per year—less than the cost of a NSW fishing licence.

Foundation Members are recognised on a special page in the NSWCFA website and at the foot of NSWCFA newsletters.

Your contribution will help meet the cost of hiring meeting venues across NSW and out-of-pocket expenses for committee members who attend meetings on your behalf (such as train, taxi, bus and parking). Your contributions will also be used for the production of our monthly email newsletters, which are sent to hundreds of members, for stationery, copying, postage, internet and telephone costs, insurance to cover the personal liability of committee members, affiliation fees to the Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW and corporate return filing fees.

Click here for website with payment form and PayPal link.

NSW Angler Access website 

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has launched the Angler Access website, which provides thousands of locations across inland NSW where rivers, streams and lakes can be legally accessed for fishing. DPI worked with the NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers, over the past six months to fine tune the site. The website provides recreational fishers an easy-to-use map showing more than 4,000 verified sites to fish for native species including Murray cod, golden perch and Australian bass, as well as brown trout and rainbow trout. For more information about Angler Access, and to view the map, visit the DPI website at this link. 

Fishing season reminders

Bass
Zero bag limit for bass and estuary perch starts 1 May and ends 31 August. Catch and release is allowed. The zero bag limit does not apply to fish in stocked freshwater impoundments, including Glenbawn Dam and Glennies Creek Dam in the Hunter Valley, Brogo Dam near Bega and Clarrie Hall and Toonumbar Dams in the northeast; anglers may continue to fish for these species in those waters all year round.

Trout
Spawning season starts 1 May in the Snowy Mountains and special rules apply to the Thredbo River and its tributaries and the Eucumbene River and its tributaries (upstream of the Lake Eucumbene dam wall and including Providence Portal). A minimum size limit of 50 cm, daily bag limit of one and possession limit of two trout will apply to these rivers from 1 May to the end of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

Annual closure on fishing in trout streams for NSW will be in place from Tuesday after the Queen's Birthday weekend and re-opens on the October long weekend. Trout dams remain open to fishing throughout the year.

When the season opens again in October, a minimum size limit of 25 cm, daily bag limit of two and possession limit of four trout again applies to the Thredbo and Eucumbene Rivers and other fly and lure only waters in NSW.

Murray cod
Season closed in NSW from 1 September to 31 November, except Copeton Dam.

Eastern Freshwater Cod
The annual three month fishing closure of the Mann and Nymboida Rivers and their tributaries comes into effect 1 August to 31 October. All fishing in the specified area is prohibited to enable the endangered Eastern Freshwater Cod to spawn uninterrupted during its breeding season. Eastern Freshwater Cod are totally protected throughout NSW regardless of where or when they may be found.

Murray crayfish
Closed all year other than the following waters between 1 June and 31 August each year inclusive: (a) Murrumbidgee River between the Hume Highway road bridge, Gundagai and Berembed Weir near Ganmain and (b) Murray River from 130 below Hume Weir near Albury to the Newell Highway road bridge at Tocumwal

Fish Habitat Network on Facebook
FHN has a Facebook page that frequently carries news about fish habitat events and projects as well as links to news items from other states and countries.
Go to http://www.facebook.com/fishhabitatnetwork and Like their page to stay in touch.

Who represents anglers?

Recreational Fishing NSW Advisory Council
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/recreational-fishing-fee/licence-fees-at-work/rfnsw

Recreational Fishing Freshwater Trust Expenditure Committee members and minutes
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/recreational-fishing-fee/licence-fees-at-work/rfftec

Recreational Fishing Saltwater Trust Expenditure Committee members and minutes
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/recreational-fishing-fee/licence-fees-at-work/rfstec

Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW Facebook page
www.facebook.com/RFANSW

NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/NSWCFA

Is your club a member of the Council of Freshwater Anglers?
The NSW CFA is the main umbrella group for freshwater fishing organisations in NSW and enjoys a productive relationship with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and other agencies and recreational fishing organisations. We welcome all freshwater fishing clubs as members and as visitors to our meetings. Member organisations are able to send voting delegates to our quarterly meetings. For information about joining the NSW CFA, visit our website www.freshwateranglers.com.au or contact Mr Radge Diakiwv at diakiwv@live.com or (02) 9449 3539.|

Council of Freshwater Anglers Members
ACT Fly Fishers; The Barrington Club; Bass Kempsey; Canberra Anglers Association; Canberra Fisherman's Club; Central Coast Flyrodders; Clarence Fly Anglers; Council of Southern Districts Angling Clubs; Hastings Fly Fishers; Hunter Native Fish; Illawarra Fly Fishers; Lakeside Fly Fishing Club; Monaro Acclimatisation Society; New South Wales Rod Fishers' Society; Orange Trout Acclimatisation Society; Southern Bass Fishing Club; Sydney Fly Rodders.

Handy links
NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers Peak freshwater fishing body in NSW www.freshwateranglers.com.au
Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW Peak recreational fishing organisation in NSW www.rfansw.com.au
NSW Department of Primary Industries www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries
Fisherman's Watch Report all illegal activities Free call 1800 043 536
 
Privacy
Subscriber details collected for Freshwater Fisher are used only for this newsletter and are not used for any other mailings by the NSW CFA, nor are they revealed to or used by any other organisation.